Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Bush Immigration Reform proposal Parole for Iranian Religious Minorities in Vienna, Austria S1353 Widows and Orphans Act Asylee Adjustment of Status Cap HR2673 Refugee Processing Enforcement and Immigration Issues Development of Senate Refugee Task Force Refugee Caucus Implementation of Specter Amendment for Iranians Refugee Budget for State Dept Citizenship Programs Crisis in Haiti S1129 UACPA HR2671 CLEAR Act HR3142 Ag Jobs S1645 Ag Jobs Comprehensive Immigration Reform HR1684 Student Adjustment Act Office of Citizenship Funding Immigration Services Refugee Processing DOS Appropriations for Refugees DHHS Appropriations for Refugees HR4035 SSI Extension for Refugees Appropriations MRA/ERMA.ORR Refugee Admissions Work Authorization for Refugees S2062 Ag Jobs Near South East Asia Refugees Immigration Backlog Reduction

Client expense: $43,028 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office

1) Asbestos Litigation Reform Legislation (S.1125) - CIRT generally supports passage. 2) CIRT supported S.2062, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2004. 3) CIRT supported passage of the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2004 (LARA).

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

1) Asbestos Litigation Reform Legislation (S.1125) - CIRT generally supports passage. 2) CIRT supported S.2062, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2004. 3) CIRT supported passage of the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2004 (LARA).

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

S.1125, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2003 S.2290, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution H.R.115/S.274/S.1751/S.2062, Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 H.R.339, Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2003 S.1428, Commonsense Consumption Act of 2003 H.R.1036/S.659, Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms

Client expense: $1,618,861 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

S.2062, Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Client expense: $560,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2004: S.2764, H.R.4772, H.R.4634 The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004: S.1125, S.2290 Optional Federal Charter/Regulatory Modernization: S.1373 Class Action: H.R. 1115, S.2062, S.274, S.1751

Client expense: $1,180,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office

S. 2062 Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $60,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Reform of class action litigation rules; S. 2062, "Class Action Fairness Act of 2004." Asbestos litigation reform; S. 2290, "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004."

Client expense: $240,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

The IBEW urged support of Davis-Bacon wage rates for school construction when new funding mechanisms are used to "creatively finance" construction. In the past several years there has been a move away from traditional direct financing such as credit enhancements, tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and state infrastructure banks (SIBs). Davis-Bacon protections prevent contractors from competing based on cutting wages and benefits. Contractors on federal projects must pay their workers the wage rates prevailing in the community for each craft, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Davis-Bacon wage rates are not union pay scale, they are rates based upon a broad Department of Labor wage survey taken in local areas. Bill Ref.: HR 1840-School Construction; HR 4252-School Construction; HR 599-School Infrastructure The IBEW supported an amendment to carve-out civil rights and wage & hour cases in the Class Action Fairness Act of 2004. It is important that civil rights & wage and hour class actions filed in state courts remain in state courts. State wage & hour laws provide more complete and timely remedies for victims of unscrupulous employers than the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In the absence of a carve-out, many of these cases would be forced into federal court, where they will face delays and less favorable procedures. It is generally more difficult and time-consuming to certify a class action case in federal court than in state court and state civil rights laws often afford greater protection than federal law. Bill Reference – S. 2062 (Ltr. 7/6/04) The IBEW supported the Employee Free Choice Act because unions give working people a voice on the job that brings them better pay and benefits, dignity and respect in the workplace. Employers routinely block workers from exercising their rights. This legislation would restore workers' freedom to form unions by ensuring that when a majority of workers decide to form a union they can do so, without intimidation, harassment and delaying tactics by the employer. It would provide for certification of a union if the NLRB finds that a majority of employees have signed cards (“card check”) indicating their preference for representation. It also requires first contract mediation and arbitration if the employer and union aren’t able to reach an agreement within 90 days and institutes strict penalties for employer violations while workers are attempting to organize or obtain a first contract. Bill Ref. H.R. 3619/S. 1925 The IBEW opposed the final regulations written by the Department of Labor (DOL) to change federal overtime pay rules that took effect on August 23. Eliminating overtime pay eligibility is a pay cut that hurts America's working families already harmed by widespread joblessness, stagnant or declining wages, increased health care and prescription drug costs. Overtime laws guaranteed that extra work will be rewarded with increased pay. These job protections were won after decades of struggles with passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938. Bill Ref. H.R. 2600, amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2004 (to block the DOL from using funds to implement the new overtime rules). The IBEW supported a provision in H.R. 4200 that prevents the Department of Defense (DOD) from continuing long-term leasing of foreign-built ships for transporting supplies for our troops. DOD’s leasing of foreign-built ships for up to ten years at a time allows our own shipbuilding industry to decline, leaving inexperienced workers to build the next generation of ships for the U.S. Navy if we allow shipbuilding to continue to be outsourced. Ref. Ronald W. Reagan Nat. Defense Authorization Act. The IBEW opposed expansion of the H-1B and H-2B Visa Programs. As American jobs are being outsourced, expanding this program would bring more foreign workers to take American jobs. Bill Ref. H.R. 2688, Amend Immigration and Nationality Act to Repeal Authorities Relating to H1-B Visas for Temporary Workers. The IBEW supported an additional 13-week extension of unemployment benefits. Bill Ref. H.R. 1652, S. 1943, S. 1708,Unemployment Compensation Extension Act; H.R. 3244, Emergency Unemployment Compensation The IBEW supported raising the minimum wage. Future increases to the minimum wage should be indexed to inflation, as is Social Security. The $5.15 minimum wage in effect today needs this fix to keep up with the ever-increasing prices needed to support working families. Bill Ref. H.R. 5043, Minimum Wage Indexation; H.R. 4256/S. 2370, Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Client expense: $400,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Product liability bills S 1125 The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution and S 2290 Multiparty litigation reform HR 2341 Class Action HR 1115 Class Action Fairness Act S 2062 Class Action Fairness Act

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Energy, Dept of, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office

S. 2062, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003, all provisions

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $60,000

Government targets: SENATE

S. 2062, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003, all provisions

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: SENATE

HR 1036, HR 1115, S 2062

Client expense: $750,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Postal Service (USPS), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Vice President of the U.S., White House Office

*S.317 Family Time & Workplace Flexibility Act *S.2062 Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), SENATE

*S.317 Family Time & Workplace Flexibility Act *S.2062 Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR 2824 Internet Tobacco Sales Enforcement Act. S 1177 Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act. HR 245 Tobacco Equity Elimination Act of 2003. HR 140 Tobacco Livelihood and Economic Assistance for Our Farmers Act. HR 3047 Tobacco Free Internet for Kids Act of 2003. S 2062 Class Action Fairness Act. HR 4433/S 2461 Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco Control Act. HR 2876 Quit Smoking Incentive and Opportunity Act. HR 4033 Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act. HR 2673 Agriculture Appropiations. S 1490/HR 986 Tobacco Market Transition Act. HR 3160 Tobacco Reduction Accountability and Community Enhancement Act. S 1637/HR 4520 Jumpstart Our Business Strength (Jobs) Bill.

Client expense: $340,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Asbestos litigation reform; S. 2290, "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004;" allocation of trust fund responsibilities. Reform of class action litigation rules; S. 2062, "Class Action Fairness Act of 2004." Limitation on medical malpractice damages; S. 2207, "Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004," and S. 2061, Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003."

Client expense: $240,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of

Bush Immigration Reform proposal Parole for Iranian Religious Minorities in Vienna, Austria S1353 Widows and Orphans Act Asylee Adjustment of Status Cap HR2673 Refugee Processing Enforcement and Immigration Issues Development of Senate Refugee Task Force Refugee Caucus Implementation of Specter Amendment for Iranians Refugee Budget for State Dept Citizenship Programs Crisis in Haiti S1129 UACPA HR2671 CLEAR Act HR3142 Ag Jobs S1645 Ag Jobs Comprehensive Immigration Reform HR1684 Student Adjustment Act Office of Citizenship Funding Immigration Services Refugee Processing DOS Appropriations for Refugees DHHS Appropriations for Refugees HR4035 SSI Extension for Refugees Appropriations MRA/ERMA.ORR Refugee Admissions Work Authorization for Refugees S2062 Ag Jobs Near South East Asia Refugees Immigration Backlog Reduction

Client expense: $43,028 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office

The IBEW supported an amendment to carve-out civil rights and wage & hour class action cases from the Class Action Fairness Act of 2004, S. 2062. Civil rights & wage and hour class actions suits filed in state courts should remain in state courts. State wage & hour laws typically provide more complete and timely remedies for victims of unscrupulous employers than the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Citizens may not be able to bring class actions against corporations that violate state civil rights laws, even where a corporation has hundreds of employees living and working in a particular state. State civil rights laws afford greater protection than federal law.

Client expense: $380,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

National Flood Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2003: S. 2238, H.R. 253, P.L. 108-264 Terrorism Risk Insurance: The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004: S. 1125, S. 2290 Optional Federal Charter/Regulatory Modernization: S.1373 Class Action: H.R. 1115, S. 1751, S.2062, S.274

Client expense: $1,280,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office

Asbestos Litigation Reform S. 2062 Class Action Lawsuit Reform

Client expense: $20,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Asbestos litigation reform; S. 2290, "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004;" allocation of trust fund responsibilities. Reform of class action litigation rules; S. 2062, "Class Action Fairness Act of 2004." Limitation on medical malpractice damages; S. 2207, "Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004," and S. 2061, Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003."

Client expense: $240,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of

S.2062, the "Class Action Fairness Act of 2004" - lobbied in favor of bill, particularly moving large interstate class actions into Federal courts.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $160,000

Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), SENATE

S 2061; S 2207; S 1125; S 2062

Client expense: $750,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), Vice President of the U.S., White House Office

S. 2062, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003, all provisions

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $60,000

Government targets: SENATE

H.R. 1115 / S. 2062 - Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 - provisions related to class action lawsuits.

Client expense: $240,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE